DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1928, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

A SLACK PERIOD

AYORKEItS TAKE TIME OFF

I3y Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, November 6

A commendable example of unselfishness and consideration for their manned fellow employees is at present being shown by the single tramwaymen in Dunedin. It seems that business is rather slack at present, and it has been found necessary to put some men off lor a time. Hesitating to ask the older employees to stand aside, the department had arranged for the newest hands to do so. However, the men themseves have hit upon a plan which will at least allow married men to stay on irrespective o*f whether their service has been lengthy or not. To put the matter in a nutshell, a number of the single workers have been volunteering to go off through the medium of applications' for leave, thus allowing the married men to be absorbed. They will, of course, be re-engaged.

THE PRIME MINISTER

WELLINGTON, November 8

Mr Coates arrived at Wellinton this morning from Levin. To-morrow he leaves for Woodville and Dannevirke. He speaks at the Town Hall here tonight. “We can’t have conditions of that kind recurring. The thing will have to be cleaned up,” declared Mr Coates, assuring a deputation of householders from Moern Settlement, Lower Hutt, that immediate steps would be taken in the endeavour to abate a nuisance caused by storm water and sewerage flooding. Mr AYilford said there were 355 houses in the settlement and 37 properties have been seriously damaged bv the recent floods.

.Air It. T. Clark said there had been eight deaths in one street, implying that this was due to the overflow of sewerage.

Mr Coates said it was a fair thing to make a complaint when such a thing occurred, causing Clark to add that he had only heard of the matter. He thought the deaths could be traced to diphtheria and lung trouble. Air Coates made it clear that the position would be attended to, and advised those who had suffered loss by damage to apply to the Under-Secre-tary of Lands in regard to compensation.

NORTH-WEST GALE SWEEPS

0A T ER CHRISTCHURCH

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 8

Attaining a speed of fifty miles an hour at times, a violent north-west gale swept over the city this morning. Trees were blown down, telegraph lines broken, tents at showgrounds torn to ribbons, and the wireless station 3Z.C. was put out of action. The middle power line, which feeds Christchurch with electricity, was Brought down early near Brackenfield, when a tree was uprooted by the gale and carried across the line.

GALAH PABATvEFTS. WELLINGTON. Nov. 8

Lest some of the Gnlali Parakeets brought to New Zealand from Australia where the bird is responsible for considoraible damage, should escape and establish themselves to the detriment of orchardists and farmers, the Minister of Internal Affairs lias decided in future that permits will be issued only for the importation of male birds of the species, and under strict restrictions as to capacity.